Hampton, VA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 8 inches
- Trigger distance
- within 150 ft of a structure
- Notice to cure
- 7 days
- Governing section
- Hampton City Code § 24-37(b)
Summary
Grass, weeds and other foreign growth on Hampton property can't exceed 8 inches within 150 feet of a residential or commercial structure, under the city's property maintenance code.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any land, or any occupant or other person who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of any land, occupied or vacant...to permit grass, weeds and other foreign growth on such property to exceed a height of eight (8) inches, within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any residential or commercial structure, or any structure designed for use in connection therewith.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Hampton City Code § 24-37(b) bars letting grass, weeds and other foreign growth exceed a height of eight inches within 150 feet of any residential or commercial structure, on land occupied or vacant. A property owner in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay District can apply to the zoning administrator to maintain a naturally vegetated buffer taller than 8 inches instead of a lawn. After written notice, the city manager's designee gives seven days to cut; one notice per growing season (March 1-November 30) authorizes the city to mow repeatedly that season. Violations run $100-$1,000 per day. As amended through November 2025.
Violations & Fines
Criminal misdemeanor fine of at least $100 but not more than $1,000, with each day the overgrown grass or weeds persist treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 8-inch limit apply everywhere on my lot?
Can I let a natural buffer grow taller near the Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
How Hampton compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Hampton to another location·View the Virginia landscaping rules overview
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